Deodorisation unit

ABSTRACT

A deodorisation unit for deodorising cooking or like fumes, comprising a plurality of absorbent or porous wicks extending between an upper deodorising fluid reservoir and a lower container for surplus deodorising fluid and a pump for periodically returning surplus deodorising fluid from the lower container to the upper reservoir.

United States Patent [191 Savage DEODORISATION UNIT [75] Inventor: JackMark Charles Savage,

Abingdon, England [73] Assignee; Burger Boy Red Top Refreshment KiosksLimited, Abingdon, England 22 Filed: Aug. 2, 1973 21 Appl; No.: 385,063

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 7, 1972 United Kingdom36719/72 [52] U.S. Cl 98/115 R; 55/240; 261/99; 261/1 12 [51] Int. ClF23j 11/08 [58] Field of Search 261/36 R, 99, 112; 55/240; 98/115 R;417/40 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,238,124 3/1966Burton 261/112 X 1 Aug. 12, 1975 3,332,435 7/1967 Anderson et a1. 417/403,4035 3 1 10/ 1968 Ocsterheld 3,585,786 6/1971 Hardison 26l/l12 XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 493,735 10/1938 United Kingdom 261/99Primary ExaminerWilliam F. ODea Assistant ExaminerRona1d C. CaposselaAttorney, Agent, or Firm Norris & Bateman [5 7] ABSTRACT A deodorisationunit for deodorising cooking or like fumes, comprising a plurality ofabsorbent or porous wicks extending between an upper deodorising fluidreservoir and a lower container for surplus deodorising fluid and a pumpfor periodically returning surplus deodorising fluid from the lowercontainer to the upper reservoir.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUG 1 2197s 3 8 9 8 Sz SHEET 1FIG.1.

. DEODORISATION UNIT This invention relates to a deodorisation unit fordeodorising cooking or like fumes emanating from; for

example, large fixedrcooking installations such as used in restaurants,or mobile cooking installations such as refreshment kiosks.

In order to comply with Public Health regiilations and reduceatmospheric pollution it is necessary. to pro- 2 rising fluid reservoir11. and alower container-l2 for surplusdeodorisingfluid. The undersideof the reservoir is'perforated to allow the-upper ends ofthewicks 1 :10;to extendinto'a deodorising fluid 13 contained in the. reservoir 11..Thesiie of these perforations is chosen-so that the wicks l always' remainmoist throughout their entire length under alloperating conditions ofthe unit. ,Any excess: deodorising fluid from the wicks" collects inthelower container12.

fumes, but these have generally proved to be very inefficient andexpensive. One of the rnost commonlyused deodorisers for cooking fumesis activated charcoal,

which is expensive to use and is sometimes not particularly efficient. ig It is an aim of the invention to overcome the aforementioneddisadvantages and provide a deodorisation .unit which is both' simpleand economical.

With this aim in view theinvention'provides'a deodorisation unit fordeodorising cooking'or like fumes, comprising'a plurality of absorbentor porous wicks extending between an upper'deodorising fluid reservoirand a lower container for surplus deodorising fluid, and a pump forperiodically returning surplus deodorising fluid from the lowercontainer to the upper reservoir. I

Preferably, a float and switch arrangement is provided in the upperreservoir so that the pump is operated if the fluid in the reservoirfalls below a certain pre-selected level and is deactivated if the fluidrises above a second pre-selected level.

Thus, by employing gravity feed and by controlling the drip-rate (i.e.the rate with which the upper ends of 1 the wicks can absorb fluid fromthe reservoir), the

wicks can be kept constantly moist throughout their entire length withdeodorising fluid. The wicks are advantageously arranged in a staggeredmanner so that the fumes to be deodorised are carried in a turbulentpath past the wicks giving good contact between the fumes 'and thewicks.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings,

' according to the invention and suitable for deodorising cooking orlike fumes emanating from, for example, large fixed cookinginstallations such as used in restaurants, or mobile cookinginstallations such as refreshment kiosks. The deodorisation unitcomprises a plurality of absorbent lint wicks 10 arranged in staggeredrows and extending vertically between an upper deodor The reservoirllisjprovided with a pump 1.4 which can be switched on and offby'microswitches 15 con-- trolled from a ball l6"floating in the'deodorising fluid 1"3:present'in the reservoir 11. When thefluid l3falls below a certain pre-selected level, the pump 14 is activated topump deodorising fluidfrom the lower container 12' up apipe 17 andintothe reservoir '11. Similarly, when the fluid13 reaches a second buthigher pre-selected level, the pump 14 is switched off autoinatically bythe float ball 16 and the microswitches15.

Furnesto b'e deodorised arefed t o the unit through a duct 1,8' a'ndleave through a second duct 19.

In 2, 'the turbuleritiflow :ofithe fumes past the wicks lflffcan clearlybe seen. Thefajct that the wickslil areari'anged in staggered rowsaccounts for this turbu- .lence which ensures good mixingof the fumeswith the deodorising fluid vapour which has evaporated from the wicks10. v y f It will thus be appreciated thatthe deodorisation unit of theinvention provides a particularly efficient and simple means of totallydeodorising cooking and like fumes. If a unit such as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 proves to be insufficient for effective deodorisation offumes from a particular source, then a larger unit may be employed whichis provided with additional wicks.

It is also noted that the deodorisation unit of the invention cannotbecome blocked up with grease and oil entrained in vapour form in thefumes being deodorised, which is a common problem with existingdeodorisers. Although the wicks first contacted by the fumes may collecta certain amount of grease and oil, thus reducing their evaporation ofthe deodorising fluid, the air flow of fumes through the unit will notbe impeded, nor will the effectiveness of the wicks further into theunit.

FIG. 3 shows a roof unit for a mobile refreshment kiosk incorporatingtwo deodorisation units of the invention. Fumes to be deodorised aredrawn into two rectanular sectioned ducts 20 through apertures 21. Thefumes are then drawn by a fan 22 through respective deodorisation units23 which each have a respective curved outer side 24 and a respectiveinwardly projecting baffle 25 to promote the desired turbulent air flowin the units 23. Each unit 23 is provided with wicks 26 and theoperation of each unit 23 is exactly the same as the unit described withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The deodorised fumes are drawn by the fan 22along a further duct 27 to be ejected from a ventilator 28. The fourthside of the roof unit is completed by a ducting 29 which contains astrip light 30 for illuminating a display sign 31.

Each deodorisation unit is provided with its own deodorisation fluidreservoir and lower container (not shown), the float and switcharrangement being associated with the reservoir of one deodorisationunit and the pump being associated with the other reservoir. Appropriatepiping is provided so that the pump can deliver fluid from both lowercontainers into the reservoirs.

The above described roof unit is both simple to manufacture andmaintain, it only being necessary periodically to top up the level ofthe deodorisation fluid in the reservoirs as the fluid is used up.

What we claim is:

l. A deodorisation unit comprising ducting through which fumes to bedeodorised are forced, an upper fluid reservoir for containingdeodorising fluid mounted above the ducting, alower fluid container forsurplus deodorising fluid mounted oppositely below the ducting, aplurality of absorbent wicks extending from said reservoir across theducting in the directpath of said fumes and into said container, saidwicks being arranged in staggered rows to ensure good mixing of thefumes and the deodorising fluid vapour evaporating from the wicks, apump having an inlet connected to said container and an outlet connectedto said reservoir and means for periodically actuating said pump fortransferring fluid from said container to said reservoir.

2. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the underside ofthe reservoir is perforated to allow the upper ends of the wicks toextend into the deodorising fluid, the size of the perforations beingchosen so that the wicks always remain moist under all operatingconditions of the unit.

3. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the wicks are arranged in staggered rows to ensure good mixingof the fumes and the deodorising fluid vapour evaporating from thewicks.

4. A deodorisation unit as defined in claim 1, wherein means is providedresponsive to the liquid level in said reservoir for periodicallyactuating said pump.

5. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pump isswitched on and off by means of a float in the reservoir, the floatacting to activate the pump when the fluid drops below a certainpre-selected level and switch off the pump when a second higherpre-selected fluid level is reached.

6. In combination with the deodorisation unit claimed in claim 1, a roofunit fora portable refreshment unit having means therein defining saidducting, there being a fan in said ducting for moving fumes therethroughand to an exhaust ventilator.

' 7. A roof unit as claimed in claim 6, further including a seconddeodorisation unit, and wherein the roof unit is generally rectangularin plan, the deodorisation units being disposed at adjacent corners ofthe roof and being both connected to the fan by appropriate ducting.

8. A roof unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein each deodorisation unitcontains baffles in said ducting to promote the desired turbulentair-flow therethrough.

1. A deodorisation unit comprising ducting through which fumes to bedeodorised are forced, an upper fluid reservoir for containingdeodorising fluid mounted Above the ducting, a lower fluid container forsurplus deodorising fluid mounted oppositely below the ducting, aplurality of absorbent wicks extending from said reservoir across theducting in the direct path of said fumes and into said container, saidwicks being arranged in staggered rows to ensure good mixing of thefumes and the deodorising fluid vapour evaporating from the wicks, apump having an inlet connected to said container and an outlet connectedto said reservoir and means for periodically actuating said pump fortransferring fluid from said container to said reservoir.
 2. Adeodorisation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the underside of thereservoir is perforated to allow the upper ends of the wicks to extendinto the deodorising fluid, the size of the perforations being chosen sothat the wicks always remain moist under all operating conditions of theunit.
 3. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wicksare arranged in staggered rows to ensure good mixing of the fumes andthe deodorising fluid vapour evaporating from the wicks.
 4. Adeodorisation unit as defined in claim 1, wherein means is providedresponsive to the liquid level in said reservoir for periodicallyactuating said pump.
 5. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 4,wherein the pump is switched on and off by means of a float in thereservoir, the float acting to activate the pump when the fluid dropsbelow a certain pre-selected level and switch off the pump when a secondhigher pre-selected fluid level is reached.
 6. In combination with thedeodorisation unit claimed in claim 1, a roof unit for a portablerefreshment unit having means therein defining said ducting, there beinga fan in said ducting for moving fumes therethrough and to an exhaustventilator.
 7. A roof unit as claimed in claim 6, further including asecond deodorisation unit, and wherein the roof unit is generallyrectangular in plan, the deodorisation units being disposed at adjacentcorners of the roof and being both connected to the fan by appropriateducting.
 8. A roof unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein eachdeodorisation unit contains baffles in said ducting to promote thedesired turbulent air-flow therethrough.